Guest Contributor:
Brianna Jackson
Black Mental Wellness Intern
What does Black Mental Wellness mean to you?
Black Mental Wellness to me is strength and resilience. It is unpacking generations and generations of dismal and learning to find identity, clarity, unity and peace in the midst. Black Mental Wellness is understanding and accepting the idea that it is okay to not be okay. With the education and resources we have now, it is imperative that we, as mental health professionals and advocates, revisit, revise and set the new narrative. Black mental wellness, to me, is receiving professional guidance as something positive that will contribute to our well-being and health rather than tarnish it.
How can we encourage more people to seek mental health treatment?
It is important to be honest and transparent in our community. Often times, we feel shame (and are shamed) for seeking professional help and as a result, continue the cycle of acknowledging a certain issue and refusing to resolve it. I think the first step in encouraging anyone to seek help is to be open about our own experiences and the impact it has left on our lives. Through meaningful conversation and interaction, we can create a space where people are comfortable enough to ask questions about the field, some resources, and etc. and make comments that would generally be made internally.
What are your recommendations for ending stigma in the Black community?
Education, support and patience are my recommendations for ending stigma in the Black community.
What are your top 5 favorite wellness and self-care strategies?
Self care is self love is my motto. To show myself love and genuine care, I:
1. awaken with affirmations such as,
“I am worthy.
I am enough.
I was born to live and not exist.
I choose peace and happiness today
2. set boundaries and limitations with myself and others.
3. schedule and prioritize a time to pamper myself with alone time, food, jazz music and facials. It’s like my soul is reborn- refreshed and recharged.
4. disconnect from the social world to limit over indulging in another’s reality and to prevent neglecting mine.
5. rest. Call me sleeping beauty!
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Guest Contributor
Brianna Jackson is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. She currently resides in Middle Tennessee, where she studied Psychology and received a Bachelor’s of Science from Middle Tennessee State University. She has a passion for helping and promoting the mental and psychological well-being of others. She hopes to one day counsel at risk youth and adolescents. Thanks to her mentor, Dr. Nicole Cammack and the Black Mental Wellness family, she has had the opportunity to grow in knowledge and participate in several projects, including the 2020 BMW Conference: From Surviving to Thriving and the University of Houston (Jasmine Brooks) Surviving COVID-19: Risk and Resilience Factors for Black Adults research.
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